Abstract
Objective:
The purpose of the study was to examine whether empathy training increases preschoolers' empathic skills while decreasing their conduct problems.
Method:
In the study a pretest-posttest control group design was utilized. The sample consisted of 51 preschoolers from four different child care center in Mersin, Turkey. Before the training, children's empathic skills were assessed by a picture- story measure including 4 photographs expressing four basic emotions and four stories in which a child was experiencing one of these four basic emotions (happy, sad, angry, afraid). Children's conduct problems were also evaluated by Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. The training group received the empathy education 3 times a week in 30 minute sessions over a 2 month-period. After the training, children's empathic skills and conduct problems were reassesed.
Results:
As predicted, the results indicated that empathy training increased preschoolers' empathic skills and decreased conduct problems.
Discussion:
The results of the study suggest that preschoolers can benefit from empathy training. It appears that teaching empathy to preschoolers result in decreased conduct problems.
Keywords: Empathy training, conduct problems, preschooler.
